CLEARWATER – Without having played an inning for the Columbus Clippers, Drew Henson already is the most popular player in the city’s history.

By signing a six-year, $17 million contract with the Yankees yesterday and agreeing to end his football career, Henson greatly enhanced Ohio State’s chances of bringing the Big Ten title back to Columbus.

Henson, the fabulous Michigan quarterback, would have been the leading Heisman Trophy contender if he’d stayed in Ann Arbor. Steinbrenner went to bat for his favorite football program, the one in Columbus, and made sure Henson had torched the Buckeyes secondary for the last time.

That’s not the real reason the Yankees re-acquired Henson and signed him to a record contract for a player without major-league experience.

The Yankees hope to have a Michigan wall on the left side of the infield with Henson at third and Derek Jeter at short starting next season and stretching into next decade. Henson will play at Triple-A Coulmbus for most of this season, though he might start the season in Tampa to get into baseball shape.

With the signing of Henson, 21, the Yankees have assembled their next infield. Nick Johnson and Alfonso Soriano will play on the other side of the infield.

Henson already has the big-league lingo down. In press conference in Ann Arbor, Mich., Henson said it wasn’t about the money.

This time, the statement has credibility.

“I want to make it clear that it is my boyhood dream, not economic factors, that led me to this decision,” Henson said. “Otherwise, I would have pursued lucrative opportunities in the NFL draft.”

Henson, who projected as the first pick of the NFL draft, would have made far more money in the short term.

Bottom line: Henson would rather play baseball for the Yankees than football for anybody.

“For as long as I can remember, I have spent spring and summer evenings playing baseball, and I can think of no better way to earn a living that doing what I love most,” Henson said.

Henson’s first choice would have been to play football for Michigan his senior year then join the Yankees.

Needing to get Henson playing baseball on a daily basis at a high level, the Yankees let Henson know that if he didn’t sign a contract that forbids him from playing another down of football, it wouldn’t be there in the future.

“Unfortunately, it has been made clear to me that the opportunity presenting itself at this time will not be there next January,” Henson said.

Devastated when the Yankees dealt him to the Reds last summer, Henson did not want to miss his chance at becoming the Yankees’ third baseman of the near-future.

“I cannot risk turning it down again,” Henson said.

Dick Groch, the man who signed both Derek Jeter and Henson, once said of all the players he has scouted in his career only three received his highest grade, “future major-league superstar.”

Ken Griffey Jr., Jeter and Henson.

Former Mets general manager Joe McIlvaine once said Henson has “50-home run potential.”

Yesterday, Joe Torre said: “Obviously, he has terrific potential and is a future superstar, potentially.”

Catching instructor Tom Nieto who managed Henson in the minors: “I’ve seen him hit balls for a young guy that make you say wow. I’ve seen him hit a ball over the scoreboard at Legends. In Jupiter, I’ve seen him hit a ball over the roof of the offices.”

Yankees hitting coach Gary Denbo worked extensively with Henson and was impressed with how, during the spring, Henson frequently flew from Michigan at the end of the school week, worked with Denbo in the cages on Friday night and Saturday, then flew back to Michigan on Sunday.

“His makeup is a lot like Derek Jeter’s a very level-headed guy,” Denbo said. “Nothing seems to faze him. He’s very confident in the clubhouse and on the field.”

His swing?

“He’s got great balance and good adjustability in his swing,” Denbo said. “He doesn’t miss hitting balls very often.”

The Yankees invested $17 million in the belief Henson will not swing and miss at stardom the way Ruben Rivera did.

If Henson starts his big-league career next season and reaches the stardom projected of him by some, the Yankees will have gotten a bargain akin to the four-year, $6.6 million deal they gave to Orlando Hernandez.

If he doesn’t cut it, he’ll spend the rest of his life wondering whether he could have won the Heisman. He’ll be wondering with a packed bank account and healthy knees.